The extremely rare Perak Expedition C.G.M. group of three awarded to Petty Officer 1st...

The extremely rare Perak Expedition C.G.M. group of three awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class H. Thompson, Royal Navy, who cut down some Malays who were about to kill Dr Townsend of the Buffs during an attack at Kotalama in January 1876 Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, V.R., 2nd issue (Henry Thompson. A.B: R.N: Perak River. 1876.) officially engraved in upright capitals; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (H. Thompson. A.B. H.M.S. “Philomel”.); South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (H. Thompson, P.O. 1 Cl: H.M.S “Orontes”) minor edge bruise to the first and some very light surface and edge marks, otherwise toned, nearly extremely fine (3) £16,000-£20,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: American Numismatic Society, Morton & Eden, May 2006. Three C.G.M.s were awarded for the Perak Campaign, namely to Able Seamen Henry Thompson, Harry Bennett and David Sloper, all of H.M.S. Philomel’s Naval Brigade; the C.G.M. pair awarded to Bennett formed part of the Douglas-Morris Collection (Part I), Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996, and was re-offered in these Rooms December 2008. The recommendation for Henry Thompson’s award, jointly with Harry Bennett, was signed by Commander Garforth, R.N.: ‘On 4 January 1876 during the attack made by the Malays at Kotalama on Brigadier-General Ross, his staff and the Philomel’s Naval Brigade, Henry Thompson and Harry Bennett saved the life of Doctor Townsend attached to the Buffs, by cutting down the Malays who were about to spear him when he was on the ground in a helpless condition, these seamen at the time being separated from the main body, caused through the thickness of the bush.’ Henry Thompson was born at Harwich, Massachusetts, U.S.A., on 3 June 1840. He signed a Continuous Service Engagement of 10 years on 1 February 1868, but his early service is unknown until he joins Crocodile as Leading Seaman on 1 January 1873, moving to Duke of Wellington on 1 August, before joining Philomel on 25 August 1873. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 13 April 1875, and served in Philomel until 5 September 1877, including the Perak campaign of 1875-76. He next joined the Duke of Wellington on 6 September 1877, for some reason being disrated to Leading Seaman on 8 February 1878, before joining Orontes on the following day. In this ship he was advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 15 September 1878, and to Petty Officer 1st Class on 10 April 1879, seeing service in South Africa during the Zulu war. He remained in Orontes until joining the Duke of Wellington on 16 June 1882, and served in this ship until he was shore pensioned on 9 February 1884.